Mishloach Manot Madness

English Tea Time and Movie Night theme baskets.

One week until Purim and the excitement in my house is rising every day. I’m not a great one to fuss with costumes, but my mind is bubbling over with ideas for Mishloach Manot. The practice of giving food – specifically two different types — was mandated as a mitzvah at the suggestion of Queen Esther (you’ll find it in the Megillah), and we’re still obeying to this day. I like to go out of my way to give Mishloach Manot to people I just met or to new friends: it’s a great opportunity to break the ice with new neighbors too.

When it comes to your goodie basket, you can go from cheap and cheerful to expensive and exotic. The only things that limit you are your imagination and your wallet.

At first, I couldn’t decide between two ideas, so I developed two EASY recipes for you and me. I “borrowed” a few ideas from my friends, Tamar and Hadassah, but I can’t remember which was which. Anyway, you’re welcome to borrow these ideas from us, and we won’t tell a soul.

Option 1: an English Tea Time Shalach Manos.
Homemade jam is so easy to make, so (literally) sweet, and a perfect way to use up all those bits of frozen berries in your freezer. You can package homemade jam and some biscuits, crackers, scones or English muffins (you can buy all of these) and a box of tea. To that end, I present you with a recipe for Homemade Mixed Berry Jam.

Option 2: a “movie night” theme is fun and family friendly.
You get to satisfy all your cravings for Twizzlers, soda and popcorn. But not just any popcorn: we’re talking homemade, gourmet Maple Almond Popcorn. Don’t worry – it’s truly Quick & Kosher and so easy you’ll do it again and again.

I decided to go with this one, so I picked up some plastic movie style popcorn tubs, and I’m rounding out the package with a can of soda tucked into a Coke cup with a lid (got ‘em from the pizza store). And of course, I’ll add a pack of Twizzlers. As soon as I put it together, I’ll take a pic for you and post it here.

Homemade Mixed Berry Jam

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Serves: 8-10

Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Kosher Designation: Pareve

Difficulty: Beginner

Ingredients:

3 cups frozen mixed berries (raspberries and blueberries)

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup diced peeled granny smith apple

2 tablespoons water

Preparation:

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 to 45 minutes or until thickened and berries are broken down. Cool completely.

Can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or can be canned and stored for up to 6 months.

Maple Almond Popcorn

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 60 minutes

Serves: 8

Yield: 6 cups

Kosher Designation: Pareve

Difficulty: Intermediate

Ingredients:

6 cups popcorn

1 cup slivered almonds

1 cup maple syrup

Preparation:

Grease a large bowl with cooking spray. Add popcorn and almonds and stir to combine. Set aside.

Heat chocolate chips in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly with a spatula until melted and smooth. Pour melted chocolate onto sheet pan and smooth with spatula to create an even layer. Sprinkle with dried fruits and nuts.

Chill 30 minutes or until set. Peel foil away and break or cut into large chunks. Serve slightly chilled. Keeps in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Serves: 24

Yield: 4 dozen

Kosher Designation: Pareve

Difficulty: Beginner

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 sticks vegetable shortening

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

4 tablespoons crushed peppermint candies

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder and whisk together. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream shortening and sugar for 2 minutes or just until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well until fully incorporated. Add peppermint extract and mix well. Slowly mix in dry ingredients and beat on low speed until mixture comes together and forms a ball.

Scoop out 1-inch balls and roll between the palms of your hands. Place on parchment paper and flatten with fingers or a spatula to about 1/8” thick. Sprinkle cookies with crushed candy and bake 13 to 15 minutes or until set. Cook 5 minutes on sheet pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Featured at Aish.com:

About the Author

Jamie Geller was “The Bride Who Knew Nothing” – until she found her niche as everybody’s favorite kosher cook next door. She is the author of the best-selling Quick & Kosher cookbook series and creator of the Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller magazine. Join Jamie and the world’s largest kosher food community on joyofkosher.com to discover 5,000 FREE kosher recipes, inspiring menu ideas, how-to videos, and more! Follow more of Jamie’s Quick & Kosher cooking adventures on Twitter @JoyofKosher and on facebook.com/joyofkosher.

Visitor Comments: 1

(1)
Hadassah,
March 21, 2011 3:02 PM

Great recipes/ideas!

While I didn't make any of these recipes for Purim this year, I plan to make them in the future. I really like the idea of the English tea, and I want to try the maple/almond popcorn and the bark with dried fruit (though will probably try it with milk or dark chocolate (not a big fan of white chocolate). I like you you state the prep time and level of difficulty. Happy Shushan Purim!

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I live in rural Montana where the Cholov Yisrael milk is difficult to obtain and very expensive. So I drink regular milk. What is your view on this?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Jewish law requires that there be rabbinic supervision during the milking process to ensure that the milk comes from a kosher animal. In the United States, many people rely on the Department of Agriculture's regulations and controls as sufficiently stringent to fulfill the rabbinic requirement for supervision.

Most of the major Kashrut organizations in the United States rely on this as well. You will therefore find many kosher products in America certified with a 'D' next to the kosher symbol. Such products – unless otherwise specified on the label – are not Cholov Yisrael and are assumed kosher based on the DOA's guarantee.

There are many, however, do not rely on this, and will eat only dairy products that are designated as Cholov Yisrael (literally, "Jewish milk"). This is particularly true in large Jewish communities, where Cholov Yisrael is widely available.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote that under limited conditions, such as an institution which consumes a lot of milk and Cholov Yisrael is generally unavailable or especially expensive, American milk is acceptable, as the government supervision is adequate to prevent non-kosher ingredients from being added.

It should be added that the above only applies to milk itself, which is marketed as pure cow's milk. All other dairy products, such as cheeses and butter, may contain non-kosher ingredients and always require kosher certification. In addition, Rabbi Feinstein's ruling applies only in the United States, where government regulations are considered reliable. In other parts of the world, including Europe, Cholov Yisrael is a requirement.

There are additional esoteric reasons for being stringent regarding Cholov Yisrael, and because of this it is generally advisable to consume only Cholov Yisroel dairy foods.

In 1889, 800 Jews arrived in Buenos Aires, marking the birth of the modern Jewish community in Argentina. These immigrants were fleeing poverty and pogroms in Russia, and moved to Argentina because of its open door policy of immigration. By 1920, more than 150,000 Jews were living in Argentina. Juan Peron's rise to power in 1946 was an ominous sign, as he was a Nazi sympathizer with fascist leanings. Peron halted Jewish immigration to Argentina, introduced mandatory Catholic religious instruction in public schools, and allowed Argentina to become a haven for fleeing Nazis. (In 1960, Israeli agents abducted Adolf Eichmann from a Buenos Aires suburb.) Today, Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America with 250,000, though terror attacks have prompted many young people to emigrate. In 1992, the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 32 people. In 1994, the Jewish community headquarters in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 85 people. The perpetrators have never been apprehended.

Be aware of what situations and behaviors give you pleasure. When you feel excessively sad and cannot change your attitude, make a conscious effort to take some action that might alleviate your sadness.

If you anticipate feeling sad, prepare a list of things that might make you feel better. It could be talking to a specific enthusiastic individual, running, taking a walk in a quiet area, looking at pictures of family, listening to music, or reading inspiring words.

While our attitude is a major factor in sadness, lack of positive external situations and events play an important role in how we feel.

[If a criminal has been executed by hanging] his body may not remain suspended overnight ... because it is an insult to God (Deuteronomy 21:23).

Rashi explains that since man was created in the image of God, anything that disparages man is disparaging God as well.

Chilul Hashem, bringing disgrace to the Divine Name, is one of the greatest sins in the Torah. The opposite of chilul Hashem is kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the Divine Name. While this topic has several dimensions to it, there is a living kiddush Hashem which occurs when a Jew behaves in a manner that merits the respect and admiration of other people, who thereby respect the Torah of Israel.

What is chilul Hashem? One Talmudic author stated, "It is when I buy meat from the butcher and delay paying him" (Yoma 86a). To cause someone to say that a Torah scholar is anything less than scrupulous in meeting his obligations is to cause people to lose respect for the Torah.

Suppose someone offers us a business deal of questionable legality. Is the personal gain worth the possible dishonor that we bring not only upon ourselves, but on our nation? If our personal reputation is ours to handle in whatever way we please, shouldn't we handle the reputation of our nation and the God we represent with maximum care?

Jews have given so much, even their lives, for kiddush Hashem. Can we not forego a few dollars to avoid chilul Hashem?

Today I shall...

be scrupulous in all my transactions and relationships to avoid the possibility of bringing dishonor to my God and people.

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